Nobel Peace Prize winner Oscar Arias is to become Costa Rica's president for the second time, after his rival in a close-fought election conceded defeat. An election was held nearly a month ago, but Otton Solis has only now given up after losing a manual recount and a series of legal challenges. Mr Arias is committed to taking Costa Rica into a controversial free trade pact with the United States. His prize was for leading talks to end two 1980s Central American civil wars. Mr Arias, 65, had enjoyed a big lead over his rival in opinion polls. But far from the easy victory that had been predicted for him, the election on 5 February became Costa Rica's hardest-fought vote in the last four decades, with the two leading candidates virtually neck-and-neck. ... http://news.bbc.co.uk

A 32-year-old man in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong died of suspected avian influenza, the Hong Kong government said, citing China's Ministry of Health. The man developed fever and pneumonia on Feb. 22 and died on March 2, the Hong Kong government said in a faxed statement late yesterday after receiving notification of the suspected case. The government said it's working with the ministry and Guangdong's health officials to get more information. China has reported 14 human cases of avian influenza, eight of which have been fatal, according to the World Health Organization's Web site. The country should prepare for the possibility of an increased number of bird flu transmissions to humans, the official Xinhua News Agency said yesterday, citing Chinese Vice-Premier Hui Liangyu. ...http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=adPCaD7UgMWA&refer=home

(VIDEO) Jewish man, his Christian wife and their 20-year-old daughter enter Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth disguised as pilgrims and proceed to throw firecrackers;13 police officers, 13 civilians hurt in incident and ensuing violence. Police rescue family from scene after one hour. Security sources: Suspects not right-wing activists Sharon Roffe-Ofir VIDEO - A married couple from Jerusalem threw firecrackers in the Church of the Annunciation on Friday after entering the compound disguised as pilgrims. The couple was identified as Haim Habibi, a Jewish man who is known to police, and his wife Violet, a Christian. Their 20-year-old daughter also entered the church. Security establishment sources said the two are not right-wing activists, but are known to welfare authorities. HabibI and his wife entered the church with firecrackers and gas tanks hidden in a baby carriage, and proceeded to set off the firecrackers once inside....http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3223475,00.html

A tense calm prevailed in Nazareth Friday night, hours after a Jewish man and two Christian women who threw firecrackers in the Church of the Annunciation were evacuated from the compound by police. Inspector-General Moshe Karadi said after an emergency meeting of the police command that police would step up their presence in Nazareth and around all Christian, Muslim and Jewish holy sites. Ten emergency vehicles were placed on call. The three assailants hurled firecrackers taken out of a baby carriage that they brought with them. The carriage was also reported to have contained small gas canisters. The motive behind the attack appeared to be of a personal nature and not terror-related. Shortly after the attack, a large crowd consisting of thousands of locals gathered around the attackers, subdued and continued to attack them. Police and emergency medical teams rushed to the scene, but were barred from entering the church by the crowd. Windshields were broken on some of the ambulances...http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1139395530956&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

Israeli occupation forces are arresting scores of Palestinian children each week, bringing the number of juveniles currently held in appalling conditions in Israeli detention centres and prisons to new record levels. Information gathered by the DCI/PS Research & Information and Legal Units shows that since the start of 2006 over 230 Palestinian children have been arrested, with the Israeli army appearing to target in particular youths from the Bethlehem Nablus, Jenin and the West Bank. ...http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/EKOI-6MJ3XE?OpenDocument&rc=3&emid=ACOS-635PFR

Plagued by a series of helicopter and jet crashes in recent months, the Navy said Friday it will ground all its aircraft for half a day next week for an internal safety review.The safety stand down will affect 3,800 aircraft and thousands of naval aviation personnel, including aircraft on 12 carriers around the world. It is the first time since September 1997 that such a pause in flight operations across the Navy has been ordered.Grounding the flights is not related to any specific equipment or flying problem, the Navy said, but is a way to refocus on safety, risk management and other procedures.Since October 1, there have been nine major crashes that resulted in loss or life or of the aircraft. Nine aircraft were destroyed and 10 naval aviators were killed. During the same period a year ago, there were eight major crashes....http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/03/03/navy.aircraft.grounded.ap/index.html?section=cnn_us